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February 19, 2018

Book Review: ‘Generative Scribing” by Kelvy Bird

Generative Scribing by Kelvy Bird is truly beautiful and essential reading for anyone who works with other humans to visualize complex systems and generate useful dialog and insight.

I have known Kelvy since I started scribbling on whitewalls over 20 years ago. She has been an inspiration to many of us with her kind, thoughtful, self-deprecating, and soulful personality.

Unlike the typical how-to doodle book, drawing manual or resource guide, Generative Scribing is written more in the spirit of the Buddhist teacher Thich Nhat Hanh.

...or the German Bauhaus color theorist Joseph Albers.

...or perhaps, written by fellow Massachusetts Transcendentalist Henry David Thoreau. (spoiler alert: there is a beautiful scene involving Walden Pond during the 2017 solar eclipse.)

Kelvy succinctly lays out the brief history of scribing, which she has made publicly available online, and makes a generous nod to other friends and practitioners in the field.

Anyway, if you are in the world of group facilitation and visualizing ideas, get Kelvy's book for your bookshelf, backpack, or bedside.

(This is not a paid promotion, BTW. I am simply proud, honored and amazed by Kelvy's work.)

Kelvy and members of this international tribe—including Alfredo Carlo of Italy, Aaron Williamson of Toronto, Jayce Lee of Taiwan, Sophia Lang of California—are collaborating to teach generative scribing workshops.

They just delivered one in Portland, Oregan and had some majorly experienced scribes onsite interested in broadening their practice. Check out some photos on Sophia Lang's Instagram.